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ERETHIZON DORSATUS, (LINNE) (ALLEN). 
THE CANADA PORCUPINE. 
Mes Specific Character—Fur, dark brown; the long projecting bristly hairs, 
dusky, with white tips; spines white, the points dusky. Nasal bones not more 
than one-third the length of the upper surface of the skull. 
Habitat.—New England and Ohio, northwestward. Common in northern 
Ontario. ; 
Average Size —Equal to that of the beaver or a halt aeatees dog. 
Average Werght.—15 to 20 pounds. 
Average Height.—10 inches. 
Average Length.—From tip of nose to end of tail about 24 feet. 
Skin valueless. 
The porcupine is of a size about aivel to that of the beaver. 
The muffle is entirely hairy, the fore feet have only four fingers, without 
any rudiment of a thumb, and all the claws are long and of nearly equal length. 
The tail is short, very thick, and much depressed. 
The porcupine is covered on the upper parts and sides with a dense growth 
efishort spines, which become thinner and thinner nearer the lower parts of the 
sides where they pass into coarse bristly hairs. 
The under fur is soft and of a dark brown colour, very nearly black. 
The limbs are brownish where not covered with spines. 
The spines are yellowish on the back, whitish on the sides, and tipped with 
brown. 
The porcupine spends most of its time in the trees, it moves but slowly on 
the ground, but its armour of spines affords it ample protection against all 
enemies. 
It lives chiefly on bark which it strips from the trees as cleanly as if with a 
knife. When it commences its meal it ascends the tree and commences with the 
highest branches making its way downward to the foot. 
The Porcupine is a quiet animal and easily alarmed. 
The teeth are of a bright orange colour. 
The nest is made in the hollow of trees or in crevices amongst the rocks. 
The young are born in April or May, usually one but occasionally two at 
a time. 
